Dermatologist salary Australia: award minimums and what they mean

Understanding the dermatologist salary Australia landscape

When researching a dermatologist salary Australia, the first thing to know is that most dermatologists are covered by the Medical Practitioners Award 2020 (MA000031) or by an enterprise agreement. The award sets a legal minimum, but actual earnings are typically much higher because of private practice, experience, and negotiated contracts.

The award minimum for specialists

The Fair Work Commission’s Medical Practitioners Award 2020 classifies dermatologists as “Specialists”. From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, the minimum annual salary for a Specialist is $121,535. That works out to:

• $2,337.21 per week
• $61.51 per hour for ordinary hours (38 per week)

The award also has five Specialist pay points (from $129,953 to $150,985 per year) that apply to more experienced specialists. However, the base Specialist rate is the minimum floor for a dermatologist who is not covered by a higher agreement.

How the award rate compares with the national minimum

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week). This is a backstop for award‑free employees. Because dermatologists are covered by the Medical Practitioners Award, their minimum is much higher – the award Specialist rate is about 133% above the national minimum. You can check Which minimum wage applies to see if your situation is award‑free or award‑covered.

Superannuation is on top

All minimum rates in the award are before tax and do not include superannuation. Employers must pay the superannuation guarantee on top of ordinary time earnings. From 1 July 2026 the super guarantee rate is 12%. On the award minimum of $121,535, that adds at least $14,584.20 per year in employer super contributions.

What the ABS and Jobs and Skills Australia say

The Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median earnings for individual six‑digit occupations like dermatologists (ANZSCO 253911). Jobs and Skills Australia notes that median weekly earnings figures are not produced for these detailed codes. The 2021 Census shows the median age of dermatologists is 46, 56% are female, and 65% work full‑time, averaging 46 hours per week. But no official median salary figure is available from these sources.

Enterprise agreements and private practice

Many dermatologists work under enterprise agreements that set higher rates than the award, or they operate their own private practices. In those cases, the award is a safety net only. An enterprise agreement must pass the better‑off‑overall test, meaning it cannot provide less than the award when all terms are considered. For award‑free dermatologists (rare), the national minimum wage would apply, but that is unlikely in practice.

Using this guide

This information is for orientation only. It is not a pay determination or legal advice. Always check the specific award or agreement that applies to your employment. For detailed rate tables, see Rate tables. For more on how we calculate figures, see How the figures work.

Key takeaways

• The award minimum for a dermatologist (Specialist) is $121,535 per year from 1 July 2026.
• Actual salaries are usually higher, especially in private practice.
• Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of the minimum.
• No official median salary is published by the ABS or ATO for this occupation.

If you are negotiating a contract or checking your pay, start with the award rate as the legal floor and work upwards.